1. Art and Diseño

The Interpreter
Office Hours: Mon-Thur 8-4:30 | Fri 8-4
Rev. Kyle Carnes, Senior Minister | Missy Holdorf, Associate Minister
Saint Stephens
United Church of Christ
No matter who you are or where you are
on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.
CLEANLINESS AND GODLINESS
Maybe it was your mom, maybe it was your grandmother, but my guess is that most of you
have heard from someone in your life, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Maybe you’ve
heard a man say it, but in my life, for some reason it’s always been from women. Perhaps
one of the reasons it has been said to me mostly by women is because, for decades now,
there has been no cultural pressure on men to make sure that the house is clean and that life
appears to be in order. All things in order. This is a huge social pressure and source of shame
that we put upon women in our culture. Perhaps this phrase about cleanliness and godliness
came about as a way to put a fine point on this social pressure. The need to keep everything
in order and to not let anyone see you sweat is so engrained into how we live, that, it must
have come directly from God, “himself.” Or so the saying went.
This phrase is fit for the top of the list of things that we say about God, that have no support
in the Bible. Jesus was regularly eating without washing his hands. He touched lepers and
the lame. He broke bread with prostitutes and tax collectors - people who were ritually
unclean. He spat in the dirt and made mud and used it to bring sight to a blind man. He
was regularly dealing with ‘unclean’ spirits. These spirits knew him by name, in ways that
those who were clean, those who were the most ‘religious,’ did not recognize who Jesus
was. There is essentially no Biblical support for our cultural conjoining between godliness
and cleanliness. In fact, it might be the very opposite.
In what ways have we all come to hide behind the mask of needing to have everything
in our lives in order, everything under control, everything clean, everything upright and
presentable? It’s no wonder that we have come up with a mantra like “cleanliness is next to
godliness” when we put such a high premium on control and order, and in particular the
appearance order and control.
As we continue through this season after Epiphany, as we look towards the beginning of
Lent, we continue to explore who Jesus was (is) and what that has to do with the lives we
live today.
I’m wondering if many of us, would find a surprising sense of relief (or terror) if we were
given permission to admit that we are making it up as we go along—life that is. None of us
knows exactly what we’re doing here or exactly how we’re meant to go about living this
life. None of us have as much control as we would like. But as humans we adapt and are
masters at it. So we make it up. Most often the path of least resistance is to adopt the ways
of the culture around us as the ‘right’ way, if not the only way. Even when it puts un-Godly
demands on us. My guess is that fewer of us believe that cleanliness is truly as sacred as
we’ve sometimes heard it quoted.
Jesus spent most of his time dealing with people who were not clean in the way that their
culture wanted them to be. He addressed the parts of people’s lives that were considered
unseemly—the parts that don’t fit well into the social air we breathe, and the cultural water
we drink. It’s these places—places of “uncleanliness” and sources of shame—that Jesus
shows up. The opposite of what the world does. When the church is at its best, we do it Jesus’
way, and not the way the world does it.
We hear Mark tell about Jesus’ first act of ministry in his gospel this week, Mark 1:21-28, a
confrontation with an unclean Spirit. Thanks be to God that this is where God shows up in
our lives as well.
See you Sunday,
Kyle
Jan. 28, 2015
903 E 2nd St
Merrill WI 54452
715-536-7322
Originally
“The Bote”
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Swim Party
2
Softball Registration
2
Coffee Hour
2
Burning Palms
3
Memorials
3
Feed Your Spirit
3
Scrip Report
4
Puzzle
4
Monthly Calendar
5
Weekly Calendar
6
LINK UP
UCC
WI Conference
NW Association
Reverend Fun
E-MAIL US
Reverend Kyle Carnes
Pastor Missy Holdorf
Sue Catlin-Christian Ed
Angela Albers-Interpreter
Brian Gilbert-Facilities
THE INTERPRETER SU
aint STEPHENS
NITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
SWIM PARTY
Mark your calendar for Sunday,
Feb. 8, 2015. The Social
Events Committee is hosting
an afternoon of swimming at
the AmericInn from 1-4 PM.
No need to sign up, just show
up and bring your own towel.
All ages welcome.
Jan. 28, 2015
Page 2
SOFTBALL REGISTRATION
There may be snow on the ground, but soon enough
the grass will be green and it will be time to “play
ball!” Teams must be assembled and registered by
mid-March, so it’s time to stand up and be counted. If
you want to play ball this summer, even if you’ve never
played with the St. Stephens team before, please call
Jerry Burnett at 715-536-6191. The season begins on
Mother’s Day.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SWIM PARTY Sunday, February 8, 1-4 PM @ AmericInn
BURNING OF PALMS Friday, February 13, 5:30 PM @ McIntyre’s House
ASH WEDNESDAY Feb 18, Worship @ 10:30 AM & 6:30 PM, Soup @ 5 PM
MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP April 2 @10:30 AM & 6:30 PM
GOOD FRIDAY TENNEBRAE WORSHIP April 3 @ 7:28 PM
EASTER WORSHIP April 5 @ 6:30, 9 & 10:30 AM
COFFEE HOUR by Clint Golisch
We are looking for members of the congregation to
host the coffee hour after 9 AM worship, between
services—it is a great opportunity for fellowship among
us. We are looking for people or committees that
would be willing to provide treats and juice or drinks.
Homemade treats are great, but it’s fine to simply pick
something up at the grocery store. The coffee is always
made for us.
Right now, there are openings starting February 22.
Please sign up on the poster in the Kuck lounge.
If anyone has any questions about what is required,
feel free to give Clint Golisch a call either at home:
(715) 536-1533 after 5 PM or at work (715) 536-9537
ext. 325. Thank you.
NO BREAKFAST CLUB
No Breakfast Club this month—the organizers are
out of town.
OPEN SPONSORSHIP DATES
Lent Soup Meal
Sign up on the Kiosk
March 11, 18, 25
Flowers
Sign up in Office
Feb. 1, 8, 22
Radio
Call the Office
Feb. 22
Coffee Hour
Sign up on Poster in Lounge
Feb. 1, 22
Music
Sign up on Kiosk in Lounge
or in Choir Room
Feb. 1, 8, 15, 18, 22, 25
CONTACT US
Remember to contact the office with—
•
•
•
•
Change of Address
Change in the Family at your Address
Change of E-mail
Change of Phone numbers (or if you’ve ended your
land line)
St. Stephens contacts the hospitals, Good Sam, Aspirus,
St. Clare’s and St. Joe’s, on a regular basis, but if you
need a visit and haven’t received one, please reach out
to us. All of our contact information can be found on
page 1.
STILL RECYCLING - EVEN IN WINTER!
Bring: Your Aluminum Cans
Where: To St. Stephens
Drop off by the office door or in back of the office.
When: Anytime!
Why: St. Stephens will recycle cans for cash.
THE INTERPRETER SU
aint STEPHENS
NITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Jan. 28, 2014
Page 3
MEMORIALS
Memorials will be printed with the dollar figures shown unless otherwise specified.
Memorial Fund
$ 20.00 in memory of Milton Krahn from Robert & Evelyn Koth
$ 20.00 in memory of Venita Stevens from Warren & Lois Latzig
Capital Improvement
$ 100.00 in memory of my parents Hilma & Martin Ullman from Faye Braatz
Today for Tomorrow
$ 77.00 in memory of my husband and son from Mary Ann Rehwinkel
$ 25.00 in memory of Genevieve Rajek from Sharon Detert
$ 54.00 in honor of our 54th wedding anniversary on Feb. 4 from Donald & Mary Ann Forster
$ 100.00 in thankfulness for Rev. Kyle and Pastor Missy from Beth Houle
$
in memory of Venita Stevens from William & Marlene Krueger
$ 20.00 in memory of Genevieve Rajek from Dave & Joy Meyer
$ 77.00 in memory of Franklin & Laura Plautz from Bob & Jolene Plautz
A NEW TRADITION
There is an ancient practice to keep the palms from Palm Sunday, dry them out, burn them,
and then use the ash from the palms for the Imposition of Ashes during worship on Ash
Wednesday. Last spring we kept the palms from Palm Sunday and they have been drying in
the boiler room for almost a year now. This year we will celebrate that full liturgical cycle.
On Friday, February 13, 5:30-7:30 PM, we will have our first annual Palm Burning. Bill
& Paula McIntyre have offered to host the event at their home. We’ll have a big bonfire
outdoors, so dress warmly. There will be a short worship liturgy around burning the palms
and then we’ll enjoy chili and fellowship indoors. Everyone is invited. A signup sheet will be
in the office to give an estimated head count. Please come and celebrate the beginning of
Lent with this new tradition. If you have any questions, contact Rev. Carnes or Bill & Paula
(715-539-3791).
FEED YOUR SPIRIT—Confessions of a Freeloader
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18
At Thanksgiving, I come in from out of town, and eat
a meal that someone else cooked, in a house that
someone else cleaned, enjoying entertainment that
someone else planned.
national holiday, so if anyone wants to host me on
President’s Day, I’m open.
Even on workdays, I drink coffee I did not brew. I use a
bathroom I did not clean. At meetings, I sit on chairs I
did not set up. Then I walk out, leaving chairs I did not
put away. And at least once a day, I look at flowers I did
not plant, water or arrange.
On Christmas Eve and Easter, I have the nerve to do it
in my own town. I join a family I was not born into and
enjoy the company of children I did not raise. I get to
bring the children I did raise with me. Then they get to
eat food we did not cook, because that’s how I raised
‘em.
In other words, I’m a freeloader. And I admit it. I’ll even
put it in writing. Why? Because sometimes, when I’m
not busy freeloading, I can fall prey to score-keeping.
So I keep this list handy. It reminds me that the balance
sheet of my own life is far from reconciled.
On July 4th, I eat a pancake breakfast I did nothing to
make at a party I did not throw. I watch a parade I did
not plan and listen to fireworks someone else set off.
Then I eat hotdogs I did not grill on a lawn I did not
mow.
Prayer
Thank you for all I get, for all I have and for all I have
taken for granted. Amen.
My goal is to have this sort of arrangement for every
I’m a freeloader, who gets more than I deserve.
by Lillian Daniel
THE INTERPRETER SU
aint STEPHENS
NITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
SCRIP YEAR-END REPORT
The St. Stephen’s Stewardship Committee along with
the Scrip sales volunteers are excited to inform the
congregation of the progress of the Scrip program. The
Scrip program was introduced in December of 2013
as a means to raise money for our church. Like many
fledgling programs with essentially no money on hand,
we survived on weekly orders. As our sales continued
to grow, we were able to order cards to have on hand
so our members could receive their cards at the time
of their purchase. We continually strive to maintain a
well-stocked and varied inventory and will be adding
additional businesses in the future.
Our current customer base is 43 families. We would
like to expand on this and encourage those that
haven’t used Scrip to seriously consider becoming
involved as you will see how truly beneficial it is for
our congregation.
Jan. 28, 2015
Page 4
Now on to financial information: Based on our Scrip
sales in 2014, we were able to achieve a profit of seven
thousand one-hundred eight dollars and ninety-five
cents. ($7,108.95) That is quite an accomplishment,
and it came without any personal donations! All Scrip
cards purchased are redeemed at face value and St.
Stephens receives a predetermined percentage from
shopwithscrip.com or directly from the local business.
Some of this profit will remain a part of the wellstocked inventory. The Stewardship Committee will
make a recommendation to Church Council about the
remainder of the proceeds.
Finally, I would like to thank the Stewardship Committee
and Pastor Carnes for their guidance, our Scrip sales
volunteers for their help every Sunday and to Cheryl
Buck for suggesting the Scrip Program as a fund raising
resource. We look forward to a bigger and better 2015.
St. Stephens
Scrip
Did you know...
BIBLE TRIVIA
The Bible mentions dogs 41 times in the Bible,
but never mentions cats.
Donates 2.5% of your purchase price back
to St. Stephens when you use Scrip?
Cards Always Available
Ace Hardware
Chips
Dave’s County Market
First Street Coffee
Los Mezcales
Pine Ridge Restaurant *new!*
Kwik Trip
Piggly Wiggly
Pine Ridge Mobil
Shell
Walgreens
Walmart
Ehud was the first left-handed man in the Bible.
The tablets of the 10 Commandments
had writing on both sides.
MENTION SCRIP
For purchases by cash or check of $100 or more from:
Hargrave Appliance ~ Miller Furniture - Merrill Radio Shack ~ VIP Office Products
9
9:30 Music &
Movement
8
9 & 10:30 Worship
9 Chrisitan Ed
1-4 Swim Event
at
AmericInn
23
9:30 Music &
Movement
22
9 & 10:30 Worship
9 Christian Ed
25 Lent 2
10:30 Worship
5:00 Soup Supper
6:00 Worshp & Music 5:15 Choir
5:30 Youth Easter Prep
6:00 Zumba
6:30 Worship
6:00 Cub Scouts
6:30 NA
24
9:00 Playgroup
2:00 Jenny Towers
6:00 Zumba
6:00 Cub Scouts
18 Ash Wednesday
19
10:30 Worshp & Com
5:00 Soup Supper
5:15 Choir
5:30 Youth Easter Prep 5:30 Chime Choir
6:30 Worship & Com 6:30 Aerobics
6:30 NA
17
9:00 Playgroup
5:30 Chime Choir
6:30 Aerobics
2:00 Pine Crest
26
5:30 Chime Choir
6:30 Aerobics
6:00 Confirmation
6:30 Choir
6:30 NA
6:00 Cub Scouts
6:00 Zumba
6:30 Christian Ed
12
5:30 Chime Choir
6:30 Aerobics
5
THURSDAY
11
6:00 Confirmation
6:30 Choir/CCC
6:30 NA
4
WEDNESDAY
10
9:00 Playgroup
6:00 Habitat
6:00 Cub Scouts
6:00 Zumba
3
9:00 Playgroup
TUESDAY
12:00 AA
27
12:00 AA
20
12:00 AA
3:00 Bell Tower
5:30 Burning of Palms at the
McIntyre’s
13
6
FRIDAY
28
21
14
7
SATURDAY
“...for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”
4:30 Aerobics
16
9:30 Music &
Movement
4:15 Stewardship
4:30 Aerobics
6:00 Guitar Lessons
7:00 Dartball
15
9 & 10:30 Worship
9 Christian Ed
4:30 Aerobics
6:30 Church Council
7:00 Dartball
2
9:30 Music &
Movement
4:30 Aerobics
6:00 Church &
Ministry
6:00 Guitar Lessons
7:00 Dartball
MONDAY
1
9 & 10:30 Worship
9 Chrisitan Ed
Food Pantry Sunday
SUNDAY
February 2015
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
THE INTERPRETER ST STEPHENS
ST STEPHENS UCC
903 E SECOND ST
MERRILL WI 54452
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
US POSTAGE PAID
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
PERMIT #10
MERRILL WI 54452-2576
For subscriptions,
removals or changes of
address: 715-536-7322 or
[email protected]
E-MAIL PROVIDES THE
BEST SERVICE.
WEEKLY CALENDAR
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Food Pantry Sunday
Worship and Christian Education, Choir, 9:00
Worship, 10:30
Scripture
Mark 1:21-28
Sermon
Exorcising the Demons
Music
Choir, 9:00
Coffee Hour
Phyllis Oestreich, Pearl Sabatke, Lorri Vandre and Judy Ayer
RADIO MINISTRY is sponsored in memory of William Kamke from Phil & Marge
Kamke.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2
9:30 Music & Movement
4:30 Aerobics
6:00 Church & Ministry
6:00 Guitar Lessons
7:00 Dartball
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
9:00 Playgroup
6:00 Habitat for Humanity
6:00 Cub Scouts
6:00 Zumba
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4
6:00 Confirmation
6:30 Choir
6:30 NA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8
5:30 Chime Choir
6:30 Aerobics
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6
12:00 AA
TODAY FOR TOMORROW
Given to date: $35,890.00
Remaining: $14,110.00
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
8:30-3:30 Licensed Pastors’ Retreat